ine, Ruth, Gertrude Wells, the Emersons and
Emma Dean had also acted as ushers, and on the evening of commencement
day the Emerson twins had given a porch party to the other "slaves of
the realm," as they had laughingly styled themselves.

It had been a momentous week, and the morning after commencement day
Grace awoke with the disturbing thought that her trunk remained still
unpacked, that she had two errands to do, and that she had promised to
meet Arline Thayer at Vinton's at half-past nine o'clock that morning.

"I am glad it isn't eight o'clock yet," she commented to Anne, as she
stood before the mirror looking very trim and dainty in her tailored
suit of dark blue. "I'm going to put on my hat now, then I won't have to
come upstairs again. I'll do my errands first, then it will be time to
meet Arline, and I'll be here in time for luncheon. After that I must
pack my trunk, and if I hurry I shall still have some time to spare. Our
train doesn't leave until four o'clock. Will you telephone for the
expressman, Anne?"

Anne, who was busily engaged in trying to make room in the tray of her
trunk for a burned wood handkerchief box which she had overlooked,
looked up long enough to acquiesce. "There!" she exclaimed as the box
finally slipped into place, "that is something accomplished. Hereafter,
I shall leave this box at home. Every time I pack my trunk I am sure to
find it staring me in the face from some corner of the room when I
haven't a square inch of space left. I'll keep my handkerchiefs in the
top drawer of the chiffonier next year."

"I wish I had no packing to do," sighed Grace. "You never seem to mind
it."

"That is because I am a trouper, and troupers live in their trunks,"
smiled Anne. "Packing and unpacking never dismay me."

"Isn't it fortunate, Anne, that our commencement happened a week before
that of the boys? We can be at home for a day or two before we go to
M---- to attend their commencement."

"I can't realize that our boys are men, and about to go out into the
world, each one to his own work," said Anne. "They will always seem just
boys to us, won't they?"

"Yes, the spirit of youth will remain with them as long as they live,"
prophesied Grace wisely, "because they will always be interested in
things. And if one lives every day for all it is worth and goes on to
the next day prepared to make the best of whatever it may bring forth,
one can never grow old in spirit. Look at Mrs. Gray. She ne